Latch means



Oct. 19, 1965 F. R. ROESINGER ETAL 3,212,801

LATCH MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRED R.ROESINGER Y NORMAN E. FRAWLEY mim ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 F. R. ROESINGERETAL 3, 12,801

LATCH MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1963 2 heets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TORS FRED R.ROESINGER NORMAN E. FRAWLEY FIG.4 Q M ATTORNEY United States PatentOliice 3,212,801 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 Inc.

Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 259,917 Claims. (Cl. 29266) The device ofthis invention is a latch means, and more particularly an improvedtoggle latch assembly.

In holding the top and bottom covers of electronic drawers in place,when latches of the prior art are used, if the latches are inadvertentlyleft opened when the drawer is being closed, damage to both the latchand the console frequently results.

It is desirable to use a latch mechanism which has a quick and positiverelease. It is also desirable that the latch have a positive openposition so that the latch does not rattle when the box is handled. Itis also desirable to have a latch which conforms as closely as possibleto the shape of the box to which it is attached.

No known latches of the prior art have the advantages set forth abovewhich result from the use of the new and novel latch described herein.

It is therefore an object of this invention to latch together, in animproved fashion, two mechanical members.

It is also an object of this invention to quickly and positively releasea toggle catch.

It is another object of this invention to hold a toggle catch in apositively open position.

It is also an object of this invention to enclose the catch of a togglelatch assembly in a shallow protective base member.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a togglelatch assembly which is adapted to achieve the above objects.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the latch mechanism of this invention withthe catch in its fully extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partially in section, taken at 22 Of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially broken view showing the release lever and thecatch of the latch of this invention in a partially extended position;

FIGURE 4 is an oblique view of a second catch type used with a latchmechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is an oblique view of a third embodiment of a catch used withthe latch mechanism of this invention;

And, FIGURE 6 is an oblique view of a fourth embodiment of a catch usedwith the latch mechanism of this invention.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, a base member 10 has a base plate 12 and a pair ofopposing upstanding side members 14 and 16. Members 14 and 16 areadapted to support a hinge member such asfor example-a pin 15.Upstanding members 14 and 16-in the preferred embodiment of thisinvention-are also adapted to shelter the mechanism of this invention bypartially enclosing them thus preventing accidental damage.

Base plate 12 is shown attached to the side of a box 18 by screws 22 and24. It may be appreciated that the base plate 12 may be attached to anyother desired surface by other means such asfor exampleriveting, gluing,or welding.

Hinge member is supported by upstanding members 14 and 16 of base means10. Hinge member 15 is adapted to support a release lever 26 forrotation about the axis of member 15. Release lever 26 is shaped andpositioned, in its retracted position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, tonestle within the protection of upstanding members 14 and 16 to protectit from accidental motion and damage. Sufficient clearance is providedat 28 to allow lever 26 to be moved into the position shown in FIGURE 3.Release lever 26 is biased into mechanical contact with base plate 12 bymeans of a spring 30. In the preferred embodiment, spring 30 is a spiraltorsion spring which is connected between release lever 26 and basemeans 10 to bias lever 26 into the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Release lever 26 has a pair of upstanding sidewalls or members 32 and 34which are adapted to receive a hinge member such asfor examplepin 36.The axis of pin 36 is positioned or offset toward base plate 12 whenrelease lever 26 is in its fully retracted position shown in FIGURES 1and 2.

A catch member 38 is mounted for rotation about the axis of binge member36. Spring means such as-for example-a spiral torsion spring 40 isconnected between release lever 26 and catch member 38 to bias member 38into mechanical engagement with release lever 26 between upstandingwalls 14 and 16. Catch member 38 is contoured to avoid interference withspring 30 and pin 15 and to nestle within the contour of release lever26 between walls 14 and 16 when latch member 38 is in its fullyretracted or disengaged position.

Catch means 38 is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 with a hook member 42 onthe end thereof adapted to engage a hook flange 44 of lid 46.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, catch 38 has a fiat hook 48 adaptedto engage a flange 50.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, catch 38 has a recess 52 in the endthereof adapted to engage a stud 54.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, catch 38 has a hook member similar tothat shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 but adapted to engage a rod 56 insteadof a hook 44.

The embodiments of FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are exemplary of several typicalcatch means. The catch means are not intended to be limited to theembodiments of the figures. It is only necessary that the two parts ofthe catch be complementary, i.e., that they are adapted to engage eachother.

Referring again to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, when release lever 26 and catch38 are in their retracted positions, the latch is disengaged. Themovement of latch 26 is shown by arrow 60 of FIGURE 3 and the movementof catch 38 is shown by arrow 62 of FIGURE 3. In its retracted position,release lever 26 is fully counterclockwise in FIGURE 3 as shown inFIGURES 1 and 2. In its fully retracted position, catch 38 is turnedfully counterclockwise about the axis of pin 36 into engagement withlever 26.

To engage book 38 with hook 44, release lever 26 is moved into theposition shown in FIGURE 3. Hook 38 may then be manually turnedclockwise about the axis of pin 36 into engagement with hook 44. Catch38 is then held with the fingers while release lever 26 is moved intothe position shown in FIGURES l and 2. In the position of catch 38 andrelease lever 26 shown in FIGURES l and 2, catch 38 clamps lid 46 intoits closed position. When the latch means of this invention is attachedto some kinds of boxes, the lid 46, shown in FIG. 2, may have some givewhich causes it to tend to move to the right in FIG. 2. Such motionmight occur, for example, with a different kind of lid and lip. Further,such motion might might occur if the lid and lip were fabricated ofelastic material i.e., plastic, fiber board, and the like. Any motion tothe right in FIGURE 2 of lid 46 does not release catch 38 because a linedrawn between the point of contact between hooks 42 and 44 and thecenter of pin 36 is to the right of the center of pin 15. That is, the

axis of rotation of pin is offset from a line between the axis ofrotation of pin 36 and the point of contact of hook 42.

In the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, catch 38 is in its fullyextended position while release lever 26 is in its fully retractedposition. A fastener such as-for example-a cotter pin 70 or safety wiremay optionally be inserted between upstanding Walls 14 and 15 to hold release lever 26 into its fully retracted position which locks hook 42into its clamped position. I

To release the latch of this invention, pin 70 is removed. Latch 26 isthen rotated about the axis of hinge 15 in a clockwise direction in theview shown in FIGURE 3. motion of release lever 26 about the axis of pin15 moves the axis of pin 36 which lifts hook 42 clear of hook 44. Assoon as book 42 clears hook 44, spring 40 causes catch means 38 torotate as shown in the FIGURE 3 in a counterclockwise direction to snapinto nestled mechanical engagement with release lever 26. Release lever26 may then be released by the hand. The biasing action or" spring 30causes both catch 38 and lever 26 to nestle between the upst-andingwalls 14 and 16 of the base member 10.

Thus the device of this invention has a quick, positive release becauseof the biasing action of the springs. Merely inserting the finger andlifting allows instant positive release of the latch. The hook 42withdraws completely from the vicinity of the drawer lid 46 so that itdoes not interfere with lid removal.

Further, the device of this invention has a positive open position.Springs 30 and 40 cause the latch to take a positive open position sothat the latch cannot rattle when the box is handled. The hook 42 isentirely withdrawn from the edge of the box 18 so that box 18 can beplaced on a supporting surface without resting on hook 42. Hook 42 isenclosed by upstanding members -14- and 16 of base means 10 so that itcannot snag hands or clothing.

In both the open and closed positions, i.e., the extended and retractedpositions, the entire latch is substantially enclosed by the planesdescribed by the top edges of the base means 10 and the side of the box18. This permits the actuation of drawers with latches without danger ofdamaging the latches or the cabinets.

Although the device of this invention has been described in detailabove, it is not intended that the invention shall be limited by thisdescription but only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A toggle latch comprising:

a base member;

a release lever hinged upon said base member;

first spring means, loaded to bias said lever toward said base member;

a catch member adapted to engage a complementary catch, pivoted uponsaid lever and having a fully extended position;

second spring means biased to urge said catch member to an open positioninto contact with said lever;

the axis of rotation of said lever being ofiset from a line between thepoint of said catch member which is adapted to engage a complementarycatch when in its fully extended position and the axis of rotation ofsaid catch member.

2. A toggle latch comprising:

a base member, including means upstanding from said base member adaptedto receive a first hinge member;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding means;

a release lever, including second upstanding means mounted upon saidlever and adapted to receive a hinge means, mounted for rotation uponsaid first {hinge means about the axis thereof;

a first spring means adapted to urge said release lever into amechanical engagement with said base means;

second hinge means mounted upon said second upstanding means;

a latch member, including catch means adapted to engage a complementarycatch, mounted for rotation upon said second hinge means;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member to an openposition into mechanical engagement with said release lever;

the axis of rotation of said second hinge means being nearer to saidbase means than the axis of rotation of said first hinge means when saidrelease lever mechanically engages said base means.

3. In combination:

a base member, including a pair of aligned upstanding sides adapted toreceive a hinge pin;

a first hinge pin mounted upon said first upstanding side,

a release lever mounted for rotation upon said hinge pin and engagingsaid base means when in its retracted position;

first spring means mounted between said base means and said lever tobias said lever into its retracted position;

second upstanding means mounted upon said lever and adapted to receive asecond hinge pin;

a second hinge pin mounted upon said second upstanding means, the axisof said second hinge pin being positioned closer to said base means thanthe axis of said first hinge pin when said lever is in its retractedposition;

a latch mounted for rotation upon said second hinge pin;

second spring means mounted between said lever and said latch to biassaid latch into its retracted position in mechanical engagement withsaid release lever.

4. In combination:

a pair of upstanding members;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding members;

a release lever adapted to receive a second hinge member, mounted forrotation upon said first hinge memher;

a first spring means adapted to urge said release lever into a firstrotational direction;

second hinge means mounted upon said release lever;

a latch member mounted for rotation upon said second hinge means;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member substantiallyparallel and in contact with said release lever.

5. In combination:

a pair of upstanding members adapted to receive a first hinge member;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding members;

a release lever adapted to receive a second hinge. member, mounted forrotation upon said first hinge member;

a first spring means adapted to urge said release lever into a firstrotational direction;

a second hinge member mounted upon said release lever;

a latch member, including catch means adapted to engage a complementarycatch, mounted for rotation upon said second hinge member;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member in said firstrotational direction in contact with said release lever;

the axis of rotation of said first hinge member being off-set from aline between the point of said latch member which is adapted to engage acomplementary catch when in its fully extended position and the axis ofrotation of said second hinge member.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner2,795,946 6/57 Check 70--76 2,960,363 11/60 Cheney.

UNITED SFPATES PATENTS 3,030,137 4/62 Cheney 2921 13 10/26 Sche1der292113 32; 2 5 292247 5 M. HENSON WOOD 111., Primary Examiner.

au ant e.

c1 1 Examiner.

1. A TOGGLE LATCH COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER; A RELEASE LEVER HINGED UPONSAID BASE MEMBER; FIRST SPRING MEANS, LOADED TO BIAS SAID LEVER TOWARDSAID BASE MEMBER; A CATCH MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A COMPLEMENTARYCATCH, PIVOTED UPON SAID LEVER AND HAVING A FULLY EXTENDED POSITION;SECOND SPRING MEANS BIASED TO URGE SAID CATCH MEMBER TO AN OPEN POSITIONINTO CONTACT WITH SAID LIEVER; THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID LEVER BEINGOFFSET FROM A LINE BETWEEN THE POINT OF SAID CATCH MEMBER WHICH ISADAPTED TO ENGAGE A COMPLEMENTARY CATCH WHEN IN ITS FULLY EXTENDEDPOSITION AND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CATCH MEMBER.